OnePlus Nord CE6 hands-on review

Conclusion

At the end of our Nord 6 preview, we said that the combination of a sturdy build quality, high performance, and a never-ending battery life makes the phone hard to look past, even if it wasn’t the most well-balanced device on the market.

With the Nord CE6, we are down to just build quality and battery life. Other things like display, connectivity, and software are fine, but nothing that would truly stand out against the rivals.

But then we come to the regressions.

Regression.

Probably the most typed-out word in recent OnePlus reviews since the OnePlus 15. There’s always one thing or the other that has regressed over the previous generation model with these devices now, and the Nord CE6 is no exception. Cameras that are missing in number and lacking in quality compared to last year’s model. Performance that struggles to keep up with the model two generations prior. Software that looks and feels less sophisticated, and gets fewer years of updates. These aren’t insignificant things, nor something one can be distracted from with big batteries and IP ratings alone.

As such, it's difficult not to get disappointed by the Nord CE6. OnePlus had a significantly more balanced offering in the form of the Nord CE5 all of last year, and that ends up being the major thorn in the side for the CE6. Had this phone been released last year, we may have had something to work with. But unfortunately for OnePlus, the CE5 happened, and now you cannot just release a noticeably downgraded version a year later and hope no one pays attention.

Ultimately, the Nord CE6 ends up feeling more like a big battery with a phone attached to it. If that's all you need, perhaps there is something of value for you here. But for everyone else, there are far more well-rounded options available on the market today.

Pricing

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